15 Days | Discover the many sides of Vietnam – from the quiet hills of the Da Bac region to the dynamic streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City





Journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on an incredible two-week adventure in Vietnam. Discover the stately capital Hanoi, the lush hills of the Da Bac region, the stunning limestone scenery of Cat Ba Island, the majesty of historic Hue, the fairytale atmosphere of Hoi An, the glorious waterways of the Mekong Delta and the dynamic streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Explore not only the main highlights of the cities, but also the remote countryside, well away from the tourist crowds. A homestay in Sung Village, nestled in the forest among caves and tea plantations, is a chance to trek through minority villages and experience Vietnam at its sleepy best.
Trip overview

- Start
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Finish
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Vietnam
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- TVSR
- Experience local life during homestays in the Mekong Delta and Da Bac. Get to know local families, participate in their activities and enjoy a homestyle meal.
- Cruise a sea of limestone karsts, blue-green waters, mysterious caves and ancient jungle on an unforgettable Cat Ba Island boat trip
- Get a different view of Vietnam from the back of a motorbike. Take a two-wheeled tour around Hue and enjoy a special lunch spot at a convent or Buddhist monastery for a delicious vegetarian feast.
- Enjoy this leisurely-paced itinerary that allows for ample time in each location, with a great mix of included activities and free time to explore
- You'll be spending two nights with local families on this trip. While the accommodation is shared and basic, this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people (and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals!). Read more about the experiences here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/community-based-tourism-vietnam/
- This trip involves a 10-kilometre trek in the hills of Da Bac, as well as included city walking tours. While being on your feet can be a bit tiring, this is the best way to really get under the skin of a place.
- We cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Accommodation and amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight.
- Vietnam has an incredibly diverse climate influenced by both tropical monsoons and its range of altitudes and latitudes. Temperatures can vary from a brisk 4°C (39°F) in the northern mountains during winter to a sweltering and humid 36°C (97°F) in Ho Chi Minh City during the middle of the dry season. Please check the weather for the time of year you're travelling in order to pack appropriate clothing.
- You may also want to check out Vietnam & Cambodia Adventure (TVSLC) if you have longer time to explore in the region. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/vietnam-cambodia-adventure-125488
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Taxi, Train, Motorbike
Guesthouse (1 night), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (11 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
- Hanoi - Blue Dragon breakfast
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature
- Hanoi - Water puppet show
- Da Bac - Homestay Dinner
- Da Bac - Homestay Lunch
- Da Bac - Sung Cave & Village Tour
- Da Bac - Sung village to Da Bia hike
- Da Bac - Da Bia Lunch
- Cat Ba Island - Kayaking
- Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay
- Cat Ba Island - Lan Ha Bay Lunch
- Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise and Homestay
- Mekong Delta - Guesthouse Dinner
- Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise Lunch
- Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
- Hoi An - My Son Cham tour (entrance fee, guide and transport included) - USD45
- Hoi An - Boat & Bike with Sunset View & Home Cooked Dinner Experience - USD54
- Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD37
- Hoi An - Hoi An Walking & Cooking Class Urban Adventure - USD55
- Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD39
- Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD32
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Day 03 (Homestay), Day 06 (Sleeper Train) and Day 13 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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